1.Dimethyloxalylglycine improves functional recovery through inhibiting cell apoptosis and enhancing blood-spinal cord barrier repair after spinal cord injury.
Wen HAN ; Chao-Chao DING ; Jie WEI ; Dan-Dan DAI ; Nan WANG ; Jian-Min REN ; Hai-Lin CHEN ; Ling XIE
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(5):361-369
PURPOSE:
The secondary damage of spinal cord injury (SCI) starts from the collapse of the blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) to chronic and devastating neurological deficits. Thereby, the retention of the integrity and permeability of BSCB is well-recognized as one of the major therapies to promote functional recovery after SCI. Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) provides anti-apoptosis and neuroprotection in SCI. Endogenous HIF-1α, rapidly degraded by prolylhydroxylase, is insufficient for promoting functional recovery. Dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), a highly selective inhibitor of prolylhydroxylase, has been reported to have a positive effect on axon regeneration. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of DMOG in BSCB restoration remain unclear. Herein, we aim to investigate pathological changes of BSCB restoration in rats with SCI treated by DOMG and evaluate the therapeutic effects of DMOG.
METHODS:
The work was performed from 2022 to 2023. In this study, Allen's impact model and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were employed to explore the mechanism of DMOG. In the phenotypic validation experiment, the rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group, SCI group, and SCI + DMOG group (10 rats for each). Histological analysis via Nissl staining, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale, and footprint analysis was used to evaluate the functional recovery after SCI. Western blotting, TUNEL assay, and immunofluorescence staining were employed to exhibit levels of tight junction and adhesion junction of BSCB, HIF-1α, cell apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The one-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. The difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
In this study, we observed the expression of HIF-1α reduced in the SCI model. DMOG treatment remarkably augmented HIF-1α level, alleviated endothelial cells apoptosis and disruption of BSCB, and enhanced functional recovery post-SCI. Besides, the administration of DMOG offset the activation of ER stress induced by SCI, but this phenomenon was blocked by tunicamycin (an ER stress activator). Finally, we disclosed that DMOG maintained the integrity and permeability of BSCB by inhibiting ER stress, and inhibition of HIF-1α erased the protection from DMOG.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings illustrate that the administration of DMOG alleviates the devastation of BSCB and HIF-1α-induced inhibition of ER stress.
Spinal Cord Injuries/pathology*
;
Animals
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic/therapeutic use*
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Recovery of Function/drug effects*
;
Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism*
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Male
;
Spinal Cord/blood supply*
2.Mechanism of Osteosarcopenia and Its Control by Exercise
Dan JIN ; Xin-Yu DAI ; Miao LIU ; Xue-Jie YI ; Hai-Ning GAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):1105-1118
Osteosarcopenia (OS) is a multifactorial, multiaetiologic degenerative metabolic syndrome in which sarcopenia coexists with osteoporosis, and its influences are related to aging-induced mechanics, genetics, inflammatory factors, endocrine disorders, and irregular lifestyles. With the accelerated aging process in our country, osteosarcopenia has become a public health problem that cannot be ignored, with a higher risk of falls, fractures, impaired mobility and death. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have conducted a lot of research on osteosarcopenia, but their pathogenesis is still unclear. Understanding the signaling pathways associated with osteosarcopenia is of great significance for further research on the pathogenesis of these disorders and for finding new targets for treatment. Studies have shown that activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway promotes osteoblast differentiation as well as skeletal muscle regeneration, indicating that inhibition of thePI3K/Akt signaling pathway is closely related to the development of osteosarcopenia. Muscle factor-mechanical stress interactions can maintain osteoblast viability by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that Wnt signaling is important in muscle and bone crosstalk. The Notch signaling pathway also plays an important role in improving bone and muscle mass and function, but different researchers hold different views, which need to be further validated and refined in subsequent studies. Exercise, as an existing non-pharmacological treatment with strong and sustained effects on physical function and muscle strength, also significantly increases bone density in osteoporosis patients, which may be mainly due to the fact that exercise induces changes in the form and function of bones, in the form of muscular pulling and indirectly improves the bone mass, and changes in the bone strength can also change the number, shape as well as the function of the muscles. At the same time, the mechanism of different exercise modalities focuses on different aspects, and there are differences in exercise time, exercise intensity, and therapeutic effects in the implementation of interventions. Aerobic exercise can improve the quality of skeletal muscle and increase the expression of osteogenesis-related genes by stimulating mitochondrial biosynthesis, as well as improve the quality and strength of bones and muscles through the Wnt/β- catenin and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, effectively preventing and controlling the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. High-intensity resistance exercise has a significant effect on improving the quality of muscles and bone mineral density, but older people with osteosarcopenia suffer from a decline in muscle quality and strength, and a decline in bone mineral density, which makes them very susceptible to fracture, so they should select the intensity of the training in a gradual and orderly manner, from small to large. What kind of exercise intensity and exercise modalities are most effective in improving the occurrence and development of osteosarcopenia needs to be further investigated. Therefore, this paper mainly reviews the epidemiology of osteosarcopenia, diagnostic criteria, the related signaling pathways (PI3K/Akt pathway, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Notch pathway, NF-κB pathway) that jointly regulate the metabolic process of myocytes and skeletal cells, as well as the interventional effects of different exercise modes on osteosarcopenia, with the aim of providing theoretical bases for the clinical treatment of osteosarcopenia, as well as enhancing the preventive capacity of the disease in old age.
3.The Role and Possible Mechanisms of Exercise in Combating Osteoporosis by Modulating The Bone Autophagy Pathway
Xin-Yu DAI ; Bin LI ; Dan JIN ; Xue-Jie YI ; Rui-Qi HUANG ; Hai-Ning GAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1589-1603
Osteoporosis leads to an imbalance in bone remodelling, where bone resorption is greater than bone formation and osteoclast degradation increases, resulting in severe bone loss. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that regulates the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of various bone cells (including osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteoclasts), and is deeply involved in the bone remodelling process. In recent years, the role of autophagy in the progression of osteoporosis and related bone metabolic diseases has received more and more attention, and it has become a research hotspot in this field. Summarising the existing studies, it is found that senile osteoporosis is the result of a combination of factors. On the one hand, it is the imbalance of bone remodelling and the increase of bone resorption/bone formation ratio with ageing, which causes progressive bone loss. On the other hand, aging leads to a general decrease in the level of autophagy, a decrease in the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and an inhibition of osteogenic differentiation. The lack of oestrogen leads to the immune system being in a low activation state, and the antioxidant capacity is weakened and inflammatory response is increased, inducing autophagy-related proteins to participate in the transmission of inflammatory signals, excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skeleton, and negatively regulating bone formation. In addition, with aging and the occurrence of related diseases, glucocorticoid treatments also mediate autophagy in bone tissue cells, contributing to the decline in bone strength. Exercise, as an effective means of combating osteoporosis, improves bone biomechanical properties and increases bone density. It has been found that exercise induces oxidative stress, energy imbalance, protein defolding and increased intracellular calcium ions in the organism, which in turn activates autophagy. In bone, exercise of different intensities activates messengers such as ROS, PI3K, and AMP. These messengers signal downstream cascades, which in turn induce autophagy to restore dynamic homeostasis in vivo. During exercise, increased production of AMP, PI3K, and ROS activate their downstream effectors, AMPK, Akt, and p38MAPK, respectively, and these molecules in turn lead to activation of the autophagy pathway. Activation of AMPK inhibits mTOR activity and phosphorylates ULK1 at different sites, inducing autophagy. AMPK and p38 up-regulate per-PGC-1α activity and activate transcription factors in the nucleus, resulting in increased autophagy and lysosomal genes. Together, they activate FoxOs, whose transcriptional activity controls cellular processes including autophagy and can act on autophagy key proteins, while FoxOs proteins are expressed in osteoblasts. Exercise also regulates the expression of mTORC1, FoxO1, and PGC-1 through the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, which ultimately plays a role in the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts and regulates bone metabolism. In addition, BMPs signaling pathway and long chain non-coding RNAs also play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and autophagy process under exercise stimulation. Therefore, exercise may become a new molecular regulatory mechanism to improve osteoporosis through the bone autophagy pathway, but the specific mechanism needs to be further investigated. How exercise affects bone autophagy and thus prevents and treats bone-related diseases will become a future research hotspot in the fields of biology, sports medicine and sports science, and it is believed that future studies will further reveal its mechanism and provide new theoretical basis and ideas.
4.Conformational Engineering of Antibody Fragments on The Surface of Platinum Nanoparticles
Ling-Jie SHENG ; Jia XU ; Jing-Jing DAI ; Hai-Fang WANG ; Ao-Neng CAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(3):647-657
ObjectiveRecent successful restoration of the native conformation and function of the complementary-determining regions (CDRs) of antibodies on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) demonstrates that the era of molecular conformational engineering is dawning. Basically, molecular conformational engineering aims to precisely tune flexible non-functional molecules into special conformations to carry out novel functions, in the same way as protein folding. In order to explore the general applicability of molecular conformational engineering, as well as to reveal the mechanism of protein structure-function relationship, the objective of this work is to restore the native conformation and function of the CDRs of an antibody on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). MethodsThe CDR fragment of the anti-lysozyme antibody cAB-lys3, which has no stable conformation or function in free state, was conjugated onto the surface of PtNPs through two Pt-S bonds. The original antigen-recognizing function of the CDR restored on PtNPs was assessed by the specific inhibition of the enzymatic activity of lysozyme by the PtNP-CDR conjugates. ResultsAfter optimization of the peptide density on the surface of PtNPs and modification of PtNPs with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the resulted PtNP-based hybrid artificial antibody (PtNP-10PEG-30P1), dubbed Platinumbody, could bind specifically to lysozyme and significantly inhibit the activity of lysozyme. ConclusionThis is the first time that the fragment of a protein could refold on PtNPs. Together with the previous Goldbody and Silverbody, current work demonstrates that artificial proteins could be generally created by restoration of the native conformation of natural proteins fragments on NPs.
5.The impact of different contrast agent concentrations on excimer laser ablation:an in vitro study
Pan HE ; Yang SHI ; Hai-Wei CHEN ; Jun-Jie YANG ; Jun GUO ; Yun-Dai CHEN ; Qi WANG
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2024;32(1):39-44
Objective To explore the impact of contrast agent concentration on the excimer laser's effect on plaque ablation.Methods Using a laser catheter with a diameter of 0.9 mm,we conducted plaque model ablation experiments employing a 308-nanometer xenon chloride excimer laser.During the excimer laser ablation process,five groups were formed based on the injected contrast agent concentrations:a saline group,25%concentration group,50%concentration group,75%concentration group,and 100%concentration group.Optical coherence tomography was utilized to assess the changes in plaque lumen area after excimer laser ablation,evaluating the impact of contrast agent concentration on the excimer laser's ablation efficacy.Simultaneously,a water manometer was used to measure the shockwave pressure generated by the excimer laser in liquids with different contrast agent concentrations,aiming to explore the correlation between the shockwave pressure of the excimer laser and its ablative effect.Results The ablation areas in the 75%concentration group and the 100%concentration group were similar(P>0.05),both exceeding those in the 50%concentration contrast agent group,25%concentration group,and saline group(all P<0.001).Specifically,the ablation area in the 50%concentration group was significantly larger than that in the 25%concentration group and saline group(both P<0.001),while the 25%concentration group was larger than the saline group(P<0.001).The influence of contrast agent concentration on the shockwave pressure of the excimer laser exhibited a similar trend.Additionally,there was a significant positive correlation between the shockwave pressure generated by the excimer laser and its ablation area(r=0.9987,P<0.001).Conclusions The intensity of excimer laser ablation on plaque tissue can be modulated by altering the contrast agent concentration.These findings offer guidance for the application of excimer laser in conjunction with contrast agent injection techniques in the treatment of coronary artery disease.
6.Expression of TXNIP,NLRP3 in coronary atherosclerotic plaque and their relationship with sudden death of coronary heart disease
Jiawen WANG ; Lin YANG ; Hai MIN ; Yu WANG ; Li YANG ; Zaichui CHEN ; Jialin DAI ; Xiaorong YANG ; Jie WANG
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(15):2284-2290
Objective To investigate the expression of TXNIP and NLRP3 in atherosclerotic plaque of coronary artery and their relationship with secondary lesion of plaque and sudden death of coronary heart dis-ease.Methods A total of 105 cases of cardiac coronary samples extracted from autopsy anatomy and related data in the Forensic Judicial Appraisal Center of Guizhou Medical University from January 2019 to March 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.They were divided into the non-lesion group (n=20) and plaque group (n=85) according to whether or not having harden plaque in coronary artery.Then the plaque group was divided into the non-coronary heart disease sudden death group (n=25),coronary heart disease sudden death without sec-ondary lesion group (n=30) and coronary heart disease sudden death complicating secondary lesion group (n=30).The hematoxylin-eosin (HE) dyed section was prepared.The IPP6.0 image analysis software was used to measure the thickness of coronary intima and lesion,the thickness of fibrous cap,the thickness of nec-rotic lesion and the degree of lumen stenosis.Immunohistochemical method,Western blot and real-time fluo-rescent quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the distribution characteristics and expression levels of TXNIP and NLRP3 in coronary arteries.Results Compared with the non-lesion group,the thickness of the intima,lesion,fibrous cap and necrosis lesion in the other three groups was thicker,the stenosis degree of lumen was higher,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).Com-pared with the coronary heart sudden death without secondary lesion group,the thickness of the intima,lesion and necrose lesion in the coronary heart disease sudden death complicating secondary lesion group was thic-ker,the necrosis degree of lumen was higher,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The TXNIP and NLRP3 proteins expressions were not seen in the coronary arterial wall of the no-lesion group.The strong positive expression rates of TXNIP and NLRP3 in the non-coronary sudden death group were 40.0% and 36.0%,the weak positive expression rates were 32.0% and 36.0%,and the weaker positive ex-pression rates were 28.0% and 28.0%.The strong positive expression rates in the coronary heart disease sud-den death without secondary lesion group were 50.0% and 43.3%,the stronger positive expression rates were 33.3% and 36.7%,and the weak positive expression rates were 16.7% and 20.0%;the strong positive ex-pression rates in the coronary heart disease sudden death complicating secondary lesion group were 73.3% and 76.7%,the stronger positive expression rates were 26.7% and 23.3%.The coronary artery TXNIP and NLRP protein and mRNA levels in the coronary heart disease sudden death complicating secondary lesion group were higher than those in the other three groups with statistical difference (P<0.05).TXNIP in coro-nary arterial plaque was positively correlated with the absorbance value of NLRP3 expression absorbance val-ue,protein and mRNA expression level (P<0.05).The TXNIP and NLRP3 expression levels were positively correlated with the intima and lesion thickness,and negatively correlated with the fibrous cap thickness (P<0.05).The necrosis lesion area of coronary artery was positively correlated with the TXNIP and NLRP3 (P<0.05).Conclu-sion TXNIP and NLRP3 could serve as the diagnostic indicators of coronary heart disease sudden death.
7.Effect of RNF113A on the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Hai-Jie DAI ; Xia HUANG ; Li-Jun DONG ; Ming-Xuan XING ; Teng-Yue ZOU ; Wen-Xiao LI
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2024;27(4):275-281
Objective:To explore the effects of RNF113A on the proliferation,migration,in-vasion,apoptosis,and autophagy of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.Methods:Hep3B cells were divided into control group and RNF113A overexpression group(RNF113A-OE),HepG2 was divided into control group and RNF113A knockdown group(si-RNF113A),CCK-8 assay was used to detect changes in cell viability,clone formation assay was used to detect changes in cell proliferation abili-ty,Transwell assay was used to detect changes in cell invasion ability,wound healing assay was used to detect changes in cell migration ability,and flow cytometry was used to detect changes in cell apoptosis ability,Western blot experiments were used to detect changes in protein expression of autophagy related genes and AMPK signaling pathway related genes.Results:Compared with the control group,the proliferation,cloning,invasion,and migration abilities of Hep3B cells in the RNF113A-OE group were improved,while apoptosis and autophagy abilities were decreased,and the AMPK signaling pathway was inhibited;In the si-RNF113A group,the proliferation,cloning,in-vasion,and migration abilities of HepG2 cells were significantly reduced,while apoptosis and au-tophagy abilities were increased,and the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway was promoted.Conclusion:RNF113A promotes the proliferation,cloning,invasion,and migration of hepatocel-lular carcinoma cells,and inhibited apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the AMPK signaling path-way.
8.Feasibility and safety of excimer laser coronary angioplasty combined with drug-coated balloon for recurrent in-stent restenosis patients
Pan HE ; Hai-Wei CHEN ; Jun-Jie YANG ; Lei GAO ; Jun GUO ; Yun-Dai CHEN ; Qi WANG
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2023;31(11):849-854
Objective To explore the safety and efficacy of combining excimer laser coronary angioplasty with drug-coated balloon in the treatment of recurrent in-stent restenosis(R-ISR).Methods Clinical data from a cohort of 27 patients with a total of 30 R-ISR lesions,who underwent treatment with combined excimer laser coronary angioplasty and drug-coated balloons at our hospital from October 2019 to April 2023,were retrospectively analyzed.Patient baseline information,coronary angiography results,procedural details,and in-hospital complications were collected.Follow-up assessments were conducted at 1,3,and 6 months post-intervention to document major clinical events.Results A total of 27 patients[mean age(66.4±9.8)years]with 30 lesions(100%)achieved procedural and treatment success.There were no cases of acute myocardial infarction,coronary perforation,cardiac tamponade,urgent target lesion revascularization,or death during hospitalization.After 6 months of follow-up,there were no occurrences of acute myocardial infarction or death.Two patients(with a total of two lesions)underwent target lesion revascularization,one patient received repeated drug-balloon dilatation,and one patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.Conclusions Excimer laser coronary angioplasty combined with drug-coated balloons is a safe and effective treatment strategy for recurrent in-stent stenosis,but further studies are needed for confirmation.
9. Finite element analysis of 14-year-old adolescent after spinal foraminoplasty at L
Ming-Jie GAO ; Li-Na DAI ; Li-Rong SHA ; Zhi-Qiang WANG ; Xiao-He LI ; Hai-Yan WANG ; Yang-Yang XU ; Yun-Feng ZHANG ; Feng JIN ; Kai ZHANG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2023;54(3):335-341
Objective To establish the three-dimensional finite element model of lumbar spine(L) 3-5 segments of the normal spine of 14-year-old adolescents to analyze the biomechanical changes of the lumbar spine after different degrees of lumbar foraminal plasty, and to provide reference for improvement of adolescent foraminoplasty. Methods A14-year-old female volunteer with no previous history of lumbar spine was selected to collect lumbar CT image data and we imported it into Mimics 16.0 software for modeling. ABAQUS software was used to conduct finite element model force analysis. Models M
10.Application of Three Blood Stasis Models in Zebrafish in Evaluation of Anti-thrombosis and Anti-myocardial Hypoxia Activities of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma
Ming-li LI ; Bo GAO ; Sheng-ya GUO ; Chuan LUO ; Ming-zhu DAI ; Wen-ya GAO ; Bao-lin BIAN ; Hong-jie WANG ; Yan-yan ZHOU ; Yong ZHANG ; Hai-yu ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(3):98-108
ObjectiveTo establish blood stasis models in zebrafish using three inducers and select the optimal model for evaluating the activity of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in promoting blood circulation. MethodArachidonic acid (AA), ponatinib, and isoprenaline (ISO) were used to induce blood stasis models in zebrafish. A normal group, a model group, a positive drug group, and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma water extract freeze-dried powder groups at different concentrations were set up. The staining intensity of cardiac erythrocytes and the fluorescence intensity of cardiac apoptotic cells were calculated, the anti-thrombotic effect and anti-myocardial hypoxia activity of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were evaluated. The activities of water extract and 70% methanol extract of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were compared based on the preferred AA- and ISO-induced blood stasis models in zebrafish and the difference in the chemical composition was analyzed by UHPLC LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS. ResultAfter induction by AA and ponatinib, the staining intensity of cardiac erythrocytes was reduced (P<0.01), and the fluorescence intensity of cardiac apoptotic cells increased after the induction by ISO (P<0.01). The freeze-dried powder of the water extract of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could antagonize the thrombosis in the AA-induced model (P<0.01) and the myocardial apoptosis in the ISO-induced model (P<0.05), while no significant improvement in the thrombosis was observed in the ponatinib-induced model. The freeze-dried powder of 70% methanol extract of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could inhibit myocardial apoptosis in the ISO-induced blood stasis model (P<0.01), and the effect was stronger than that of the freeze-dried powder of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma water extract. The difference in chemical composition lay in some saponins (such as ginsenoside Re), amino acids, and acetylenic alcohols. ConclusionAA, ponatinib, and ISO all can serve as inducers for the blood stasis model in zebrafish. AA- and ISO-induced models can be used to evaluate the activity of freeze-dried powder of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma water extract in promoting blood circulation. The chemical compositions of the freeze-dried powders of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma extracted with water and 70% methanol are quite different. For the ISO-induced blood stasis model, the freeze-dried powder of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma extracted with 70% methanol has a stronger ability against myocardial hypoxia. Saponins and acetylenic alcohols may be closely related to the effects of promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis.

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